Help me date this 28-2 PLEASE!!!!
- Thread starter CANIS
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
Chill, Dude. I know how excited you are. I've got two of them myself. 
You don't need to post twice. Your request is on my radar, I just have to get home to the books. I'm at the office now, and will be for the next couple of hours.
If you don't hear back from me by 10 p.m., send me a private message and remind me if no one else chimes in.
If, however, it has recessed chambers and a pinned barrel it's pre-1983.
You don't need to post twice. Your request is on my radar, I just have to get home to the books. I'm at the office now, and will be for the next couple of hours.
If you don't hear back from me by 10 p.m., send me a private message and remind me if no one else chimes in.
If, however, it has recessed chambers and a pinned barrel it's pre-1983.
glockorama
New member
Ahhh, new gun enthusiasm. We've all been there. TFL'ers do expect a bit of patience, however. I used to have a M-28. It was pretty cool; a 357 that looked like a 44! Have fun with it.
Radicalcleric
New member
Probably 1976.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Yep, 1976. What I just told Chris in a private message.
I sat down on the couch to eat after getting home from work, and next thing I know, it's late, my dinner is gone, and the dogs are looking very satisfied.
I sat down on the couch to eat after getting home from work, and next thing I know, it's late, my dinner is gone, and the dogs are looking very satisfied.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Here's a picture of my 28 4". I got this one as new, hardly a drag line around the cylinder, at a gun show for $250 about 3 years ago.
I put the Boone Trading Company cultured ivory grips on it about a year ago. They look perfect on it.
It's not really a great picture. I've got a new camera that takes much better pics, but it's currently with a friend recording the "early years" of their 6 new puppies.
I put the Boone Trading Company cultured ivory grips on it about a year ago. They look perfect on it.
It's not really a great picture. I've got a new camera that takes much better pics, but it's currently with a friend recording the "early years" of their 6 new puppies.
Attachments
SouthpawShootr
New member
I'm curious. Exactly what books are you using to look up production dates. BTW, I'm a big 27&28 fan. Haven't found one super good condition yet, so I'm putting off the purchase.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Hey Frosty,
What about this line DOESN'T answer your question...
"I put the Boone Trading Company cultured ivory grips on it about a year ago."
I had actually never heard of Boone before I just typed Smith Wesson Ivory Grips into a search engine. Came up with a lot of nice stuff -- real elephant ivory, Ajax, etc. Then Boone popped up. The photos looked good, the prices were certainly very good, so I thought I'd take a chance.
I'm about 95% pleased. The right grip extension is a little high off the grip frame, but I'm not worried about it.
They're also VERY sharp across the bottom contour.
I also paid extra to have S&W medallions inletted. You'd THINK that the medallions would be the same color as the grip eschtcheons and screw. Nope. The medallions are silver, the other parts gold.
I'm probably going to be getting another couple of sets here in the next few months.
What about this line DOESN'T answer your question...
"I put the Boone Trading Company cultured ivory grips on it about a year ago."
I had actually never heard of Boone before I just typed Smith Wesson Ivory Grips into a search engine. Came up with a lot of nice stuff -- real elephant ivory, Ajax, etc. Then Boone popped up. The photos looked good, the prices were certainly very good, so I thought I'd take a chance.
I'm about 95% pleased. The right grip extension is a little high off the grip frame, but I'm not worried about it.
They're also VERY sharp across the bottom contour.
I also paid extra to have S&W medallions inletted. You'd THINK that the medallions would be the same color as the grip eschtcheons and screw. Nope. The medallions are silver, the other parts gold.
I'm probably going to be getting another couple of sets here in the next few months.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Ah crap. Not what I wanted to hear, Frenchy.
I hope that Boone isn't holding your money all this time.
I hope that Boone isn't holding your money all this time.
Radicalcleric
New member
I don't want to insult anyone, but I am a little mystified at this almost cult-like following the M28 seems to developed in recent years. It was made to be a cheap replacement for the M27, and that's what it is... cheap. When I was young some cops carried them, and maybe a few folks who just couldn't afford the extra bucks for the M27, but otherwise they were not all that popular. I picked one up for something like $125 (it even had the factory "combat" grips with the finger grooves that sell for $75 now on ebay). The trigger was not as nice as the more deluxe N frames, and the finish on the gun was downright ugly. What is that silly design on the barrel, anyway? After a few months I sold it and I do not regret it one bit.
Now, if they were still low in price I could almost (but not quite) understand the popularity of this gun. But most of the ones I see for sale are being offered at very nearly what one would pay for the much more desirable M27. Am I missing something, here?
Now, if they were still low in price I could almost (but not quite) understand the popularity of this gun. But most of the ones I see for sale are being offered at very nearly what one would pay for the much more desirable M27. Am I missing something, here?
SaxonPig...
"Am I missing something, here?"
Yeah, you are.
"It was made to be a cheap replacement for the M27, and that's what it is... cheap."
Actually it was not a "cheap" version of the Model 27, it was simply a firearm with fewer flourishes, one made to be more utilitarian. But even so, back when it was first made, S&W quality was still high and these guns were well-made. So the word "cheap" does not describe the M28 at all!
"Am I missing something, here?"
Yeah, you are.
"It was made to be a cheap replacement for the M27, and that's what it is... cheap."
Actually it was not a "cheap" version of the Model 27, it was simply a firearm with fewer flourishes, one made to be more utilitarian. But even so, back when it was first made, S&W quality was still high and these guns were well-made. So the word "cheap" does not describe the M28 at all!
Mike Irwin
Staff
Cheap implies crap.
The Model 28 is anything BUT crap.
The 28 was made to the same internal specifications as the Model 27s coming off the production line at the same time.
The differences were mainly the deletion of the checkering on the sighting rib and a brush blue finish instead of a high polish blue.
The Model 28 is anything BUT crap.
The 28 was made to the same internal specifications as the Model 27s coming off the production line at the same time.
The differences were mainly the deletion of the checkering on the sighting rib and a brush blue finish instead of a high polish blue.
Radicalcleric
New member
I said they were cheap in comparison to the M27. And they are. I never said they were "crap" (please don't put words in my mouth that I never said) and I never said that they weren't sturdy or accurate. What I said was that the M28 is a much lesser grade gun and you know I am right. While the internal specifications may be the same, Mike, I have never tried one that was as nice on the trigger as the M27, 57 or 29. they were meant to be service pistols and lower cost alternatives to the M27 and less time was spent on tuning them.
Like I said, if they sold for half of what a M27 would bring I could understand their popularity. But when people start demanding (and, apparently get) $300+ for one I am at a loss. For another $50-$100 a M27 could be had and frankly, I consider it to be well worth the extra money. To me, the M28 is roughly half the gun compared to the M27. Simply dismissing the differences as "the deletion of the checkering on the sighting rib and a brush blue finish instead of a high polish blue" sort of misses the point. The qulity of the finish is a big part of what makes the early S&W N frames so nice. The M28 doesn't have these nicities.
Just my opinion. You are free to disagree.
It's not a bad gun, just usually over-priced and I simply don't get all the excitement a M28 seems to generate with some folks. In my youth people with M28s almost apologized for carrying the bargain-basement model in the N frame line-up. Now, these guns seem to be the object of everyone's quest in gun buying. As I noted, the logic eludes me. But, to each his own.
Like I said, if they sold for half of what a M27 would bring I could understand their popularity. But when people start demanding (and, apparently get) $300+ for one I am at a loss. For another $50-$100 a M27 could be had and frankly, I consider it to be well worth the extra money. To me, the M28 is roughly half the gun compared to the M27. Simply dismissing the differences as "the deletion of the checkering on the sighting rib and a brush blue finish instead of a high polish blue" sort of misses the point. The qulity of the finish is a big part of what makes the early S&W N frames so nice. The M28 doesn't have these nicities.
Just my opinion. You are free to disagree.
It's not a bad gun, just usually over-priced and I simply don't get all the excitement a M28 seems to generate with some folks. In my youth people with M28s almost apologized for carrying the bargain-basement model in the N frame line-up. Now, these guns seem to be the object of everyone's quest in gun buying. As I noted, the logic eludes me. But, to each his own.
SaxonPig...
You need to chill a little bit. Mike was right on with his comments, especially his analysis of the word cheap and it's generally accepted implications. He wasn't accusing you of anything but merely commenting on the implications of the word you choose to use.
"I never said they were "crap" (please don't put words in my mouth that I never said) and I never said that they weren't sturdy or accurate. What I said was that the M28 is a much lesser grade gun and you know I am right."
No, what you said was, "It was made to be a cheap replacement for the M27, and that's what it is... cheap." You never made any sort of a comparison to the 27.
You went on to describe one which you had which apparently was not a very good specimen. Several of us on this forum have Model 28s, in fact there was a thread several months ago (maybe even several threads) and we all seem to have good examples of this sturdy, utilitarian revolver. Mine shoots as well as my Model 27. Our guns are anything but "cheap".
Perhaps the reason that Model 28s command such prices now compared to Model 27s is that people are realizing that the N-frame is a great gun regardless of the finish it may sport.
If you consider the 28 a lesser gun than the 27 merely because of the rib finish and the blueing, then so be it. People who were "apologetic" about carrying the 28 may not have realized just what a jewel they really had.
You need to chill a little bit. Mike was right on with his comments, especially his analysis of the word cheap and it's generally accepted implications. He wasn't accusing you of anything but merely commenting on the implications of the word you choose to use.
"I never said they were "crap" (please don't put words in my mouth that I never said) and I never said that they weren't sturdy or accurate. What I said was that the M28 is a much lesser grade gun and you know I am right."
No, what you said was, "It was made to be a cheap replacement for the M27, and that's what it is... cheap." You never made any sort of a comparison to the 27.
You went on to describe one which you had which apparently was not a very good specimen. Several of us on this forum have Model 28s, in fact there was a thread several months ago (maybe even several threads) and we all seem to have good examples of this sturdy, utilitarian revolver. Mine shoots as well as my Model 27. Our guns are anything but "cheap".
Perhaps the reason that Model 28s command such prices now compared to Model 27s is that people are realizing that the N-frame is a great gun regardless of the finish it may sport.
If you consider the 28 a lesser gun than the 27 merely because of the rib finish and the blueing, then so be it. People who were "apologetic" about carrying the 28 may not have realized just what a jewel they really had.